Question 1

What is ICD-10 code L94.4?

Accepted Answer

L94.4 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for gottron's papules. Small, firm, raised bumps that appear on the knuckles and back of the hands, typically associated with connective tissue diseases. L94.4 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (l00-l99), within the section covering other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (l80-l99).

L94.4 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.

Commonly seen in dermatomyositis; verify if this is the primary diagnosis or a manifestation of another condition.

Question 2

Is L94.4 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. L94.4 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any payment HCC category under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can still be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions, but it does not contribute to the beneficiary's Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) score and therefore does not affect the risk-adjusted capitation payment to the plan. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026.

Question 3

Is L94.4 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. L94.4 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. L94.4 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Question 4

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for L94.4?

Accepted Answer

L94.4 does not map to a payment HCC under either the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model or the older V24 model. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. Because neither model rewards L94.4 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a payment HCC.

Question 5

What should coders know when reporting L94.4?

Accepted Answer

Commonly seen in dermatomyositis; verify if this is the primary diagnosis or a manifestation of another condition Document the distribution and number of papules if clinically relevant

HCC Buddy Code Card

L94.4

Is L94.4 an HCC code?

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Code Hierarchy

Open L94.4 in the Interactive Encoder

L94.4 ICD-10-CM Code: Gottron's papules

HCC Buddy Code Card

L94.4

Is L94.4 an HCC code?

What This Code Means

Coding Tips

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Open L94.4 in the Interactive Encoder